Nov 23, 2004

Abkhazia: Khadzhimba rejects Bagapsh proposal to be Abkhazia premier


Former candidate for the post of the Abkhazian president Raul Khadzhimba has rejected proposals of Sergei Bagapsh, who considers himself a legitimately elected president of the unrecognised republic
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SUKHUMI, November 22 (Itar-Tass) - Former candidate for the post of the Abkhazian president Raul Khadzhimba has rejected proposals of Sergei Bagapsh, who considers himself a “legitimately elected president” of the unrecognised republic.

Bagapsh proposed to Khadzhimba to take the posts of prime minister and vice president.

Khadzhimba said at a press conference in Sukhumi on Sunday, “I’ve been offered the post of premier or vice president. But I’ve already been premier; what concerns the vice president it is an elective post together with the president and the Bagapsh team has already a vice president and a candidate for the prime minister’s post,” Raul Khadzhimba said.

He stressed that Bagapsh’s desire to hold inauguration on December 6 and take office of the president “will only aggravate the already tense situation in Abkhazia.”

“It is impossible,” Khadzhimba stated.

Roin Agrba, the press secretary of incumbent president of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba told Itar-Tass on Sunday, “President Ardzinba will not resign on December 6, as there is no president-elect.”

“In accordance with the Abkhazian Constitution, the former president goes out of office after taking oath by the newly elected president,” Agrba stressed.

According to the press secretary, there is the president’s decree to hold a repeat election and it will be fulfilled.

Khadzhimba told journalists that he sees two ways out of the political crisis: “the first one – to form a new Central Election Commission (CEC) and hold a repeat election. And if this agreement is not reached, then I and Bagapsh should withdraw our candidatures and not participate in the election at all,” Khadzhimba said.

He also said, “There are affairs more important in Abkhazia than the presidential election. And the presidential post can be assumed by another person.”

Source: ITAR TASS